Signaling system for railway crossings



July 15, 1930. E. v. STEINER 1,770,716

SIGNALING SYSTEM FOR RAILWAY GROSSINGS Filed Sept. 27, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwntbm Patented July 15,1930 I 1,770,716

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EARL V. STEINEB, OI MARSHALLVILLE, OHIO SIGNALING SYSTEM FOR RAILWAY CROSSINGS Application filed September 27, 1929. Serial No. 395,658.

This invention relates to railway signaling course, it would not be desirable to create a systems, and particularly to a system for signal after the train had passed the location use in operating signals or guar s at railof danger. way. crossings; v It is a still further object ofv this invention With the systems now in general use, an to provide a signaling systemwhich will be electric circuit for alsignal is established at positive in its operation, and easily cona predetermined location with respect to the rolled for increasing or diminishin the crossing and trains approachin the crosstime between the establishment of the circuit ing reach the same at difi'erent mtervals of andthe display of the signal, the same com- 10 ti d di upon th speed of th t in, prising comparatively few inexpensive parts a When a delay occurs between the time the t0 eefiicient and satlsfactory in use.

signal is displayed and the appearance of the W1th the foregoing and other objects in train, persons constituting the traveling pub- VIGW, q m'entlonconsists inthe details of he become careless and attempt to pass the and III the rangement and 15 track before the train can reach it and they eembmetlon p e be hereinafter more frequently succeed in this effort, especially u y Set Q l and l med. A i a when the train is traveling slowl but they In desembmg the m-ventlen detail, are sometimes caught on the traci; when the erence W111 d to the e y g train is traveling fast and disasters result. P of thls pp 3 The present systems tempt the hazardous use ,Whereln 1 1ke eheraetefe denote 9 P0 of the road and often decoy the travelers. mg Parts F SeVeIe1V1eYVS ,end 111 W It is an object of this invention to produce Flgure 1' Illustrates a es m w View I a signaling system in which the train of esystem embodymg the Y i whether traveling fast or slowly will arrive Flgure Illustrates f f Vlew I BC- at the crossing a predetermined time after non 9 3 .means forestabhshmg Q retarding the signal is in operation, the object being the .clrculfj 9 the slgnal; I

attained primarily through the emplo ment Flgurp 3 Illustrates t e of t of means by which the time of dlsp {Lying mechanical means for establishing the cirthe signal is retarded, after the current is 9. the i 30 established through the system by a slow Plgmie 4 Illustrate? elevatlon f moving train, and made to operate normally mechamsm for e e (11136111? and CP when the current is established by a fast tmihng the Seine, the 3 mechemsm belng train. although provision is made for estabm y e t Controlled e Operated; lishing the circuit to display the signal at Flgure 5 Illustrates a P of a l 35 other periods between that of the slow movassociated'with the mechanism Shown in 5 ing train and the fast moving train. In f and other words, the circuit to the signal is estab- Flgure 6 lllustrefies e detall View Of a lished by the train and the si a1 is made eeptecle audits Y L operative according to the spec of the train, these e mg 10 and 11 denote 40 so that within approximately fifteen seconds Tells Q railway track, and the Said mil 1 after the signal is displayed, the train will has a conductor 12 leading to a battery arrive at the crossing, although it is possible Th 10 is Preferably arranged in Secto so regulate the system as to vary thi ti tions insulated from one another, as will presperiod of warning to suit particular requireently PP The Fail Section has 11 0n- 45 moms. (luctor 15 leading to a switch 16 which is held It is a further object of this invention to or al y in Contact With a terminal 17 provide means whereby a train after it has through the employment of usual devices, pass d a crossing will operate the signaling such as a spring 18 or tlielike. The switch svstmn so that it will not be energized for 161's operated against the actionof the spring :1 establishing a circuit for the signal. as, of by an electromagnet 19, under certain com ditions, and its Winding has a conductor 20 connected to an insulated section 21 of the rail that has been generally identified by the numeral 10, and the winding of the said electromagnet also has a conductor 22 leading to the battery 13.

The switch terminal 17 has a conductor 23 connected to the winding of an electromagnet 24 and the said winding has a conductor 25 leading to the battery 13.

A lever or oscillative arm 26 is pivoted on a post 27 and the said lever carries a metal plate 28 in operative relation to the electromagnet 24 so that when the said magnet is energized it will pull that end of the lever beyond the post 27 downwardly, tor a purpose to be presently explained.

At the outer end of the lever or. at some location with relation to which the lever may operate, a receptacle 29 is located and this receptacle is intended to contain a fluid which is a good conductor of electricity. it has been found in practice that quicksilver is a satisfactory medium for use in thisconnection. The lever supports a member 30 whose function is to receive the fluid when the said members enters the receptacle 29 and it is etl'ective to gradually and uniformly release the fluid as it is elevated with relation to the fluid. In the present embodiment of the invention, this is accomplished'through the instrumentalities by which the member is suspended i'rom the lever and holes which are formed in the member 30. As here shown, the member has an arm 31 whose upper end is pivotally connected at 32 to the lever. The side wall of the member has an aperture 33 in its side and an aperture 34, relatively smaller than the aperture 33, in its bottom. The graduated sizes of these apertures may be changed to increase or diminish the rapidity of How of the fluid into on out of the member, according to the time interval between the establishment of the circuit for a signal and the time the signal is to be displayed, for, it is through the employment of the fluid, in the present embodiment oi the invention, which enacts with terminals in the member 80, that the interval between the establishment of a circuit to a signal and the time of the display of the signal is regulated, as will presently appear. I

As here shown. a terminal 35 extends downwardly in the member ill) to a lower level than a terminal 36 therein. The terminal 3:") has a conductor 37 leading to the signal 38. The conductor 36 has a conductor 5%.) in circuit with the windings ol an electromagnet 40, battery 1;) and a switch terminal 4]; conductor 42 in circuit with the signal leads to a switch it, which coacts with the switch terminal 41 to establish a circuit from the battery to the signal. The signal circuit is interrupted or brol-zen when the electromagnet in is cncrgiZcd as it attracts the switch 4;

and breaks the circuit. The purpose of this operation will be presently explained. The receptacle 29 contains an electrode 44 which is submerged in the fluid therein and this electrode is connected by a conductor 45 with the battery. 4

In the operation of the signal, when the fluid in the receptacle 29.1'eaches the level of the terminal or electrode 35, a circuit is established through the fluid to the electrode 44 and to' the battery and from the battery through the switch terminal 41, the switch 43, the conductor 42 to the signal. It, however, the fiuid in the receptacle 29 is high enough to immerse the lower end or any part of the terminal or electrode 36, the electromagnet attracts the switch 43 and breaks the circuit from the battery to the signal and, so long as "sufficient fluid remains in the member 30 and engages the terminal or electrode 36, the circuit through the signal will remain broken and the signal will not be operated, but, when the fluid is out of contact with that terminal, the electromagnet 40 is demagnetized, the switch resumes its engagement with its terminal and a circuit is established through the signal and maintained until the fluid in the member 30 has passed below the end of the electrode or terminal 35.

The member 30 is articulated with respect to the lever and at times assumes a position diagonal with respect to the level of the fluid in the receptacle, but, when the end of the lever to which the member 30 is connected is elevated, the bottom of the member 30 is approximately parallel with the level of the top of the fluid in the receptacle.

A bracket 46 is applied to the lever and it has a threaded portion 47 which is parallel with the lever. A weight 48 is threaded on this part of the bracket in order that the weight may be adjusted relative to the pivot of the lever and this acts as a counterbalance weight to allow for the displacement of the material comprised in the construction of the member 30.

From what has been illustrated and so far descril'ied, it will be apparent that a train traveling on the track from the left hand to the right hand side of the drawing will cause av circuit to be established through the electromagnet 2-t when and while the Forward truck of the train passes over sect ion 1-! of the track and during such time the magnetwill exert a pull on the lever 26 and thus the member 30 will be allowed to gravitate into the fluid of the receptacle 29. A i'tcr the trout first truck of the train. engine or motor ha llll. .--'(ll onto the. section 21 of the rail, current is established through the electromagnct il which serves to move the switch it; out of cngagcnn-ut with the terminal l7 and this dcmagnetizcs the electromagnet 24 and the lever is therefore released from the in'lluencc ol the electromagnet. The lever has a shii'table weight 49 on the side of the pivot of the lever opposite that carrying the member 30 and this weight is sufficient to normally overcome the weight of the member30, its contents and parts associated with it. Hence, the weight gradually lifts the member or 'moves it with respect to of the weight 49 may determine the rapidity of the rise of the receptacle 29 and the timing of the signal.

The system also includes means for preventing the energization of the system when the train is traveling in a reverse direction to that just described. The means for accomplishing this result includes'a switch terminal 50 having a conductor 51 which is in circuit with the electromagnet 19 and with a conductor 20 leading to the rail section 21. A train or rollin stock of any type traveling on the track and reaching the section 21 will establish a circuit through the electromagnet 19, and the switch 16 will be drawn thereby into contact with the terminal 50, and, when any truck of the rolling stock passes into engagement with and over the insulated seotion 14, circuit will be established through the conductor 15, the switch 16 and switch terminal 50, conductor 51 and through the electromagnet 19 to hold the switch out of engagement with the terminal 17 so that the signal system is not energized.

The member 30 is provided with counter-- balance weights which extend downwardly at thesides of the receptacle 29 below the center of gravity of the rece tacle of the member 30, these weights being i entified by the numeral 52.

While reference has beenmade specifically to a battery in association with the system, it is to be understood that this contemplates the provision of any source of electric energy,

whether it be'a battery, generator for a substitute therefor. v

In the modified construction illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5, the operation heretofore described is effected, but the mechanism for effecting the same result is similar to the member 30, cup-shaped, as shown by Figure 2, and it has an opening in its bottom and is associated with means for partially submerging it in the fluid as illustrated.

The lever 26 is in coactive relation 'to a,

post 53 that has horizontally disposed arms 54 and 55 in spaced relation to each other and these arms act as stops for limiting the movement of the lever, it being shown that the lever may move upwardly and downwardly in the space between the two arms. Figures 3, 4 and 5 show a form of the invention wherein a lever 56, correspondingto the lever 26 here tofore described, is to be pivotally mounted on a post 57 and in coactive relation to a post I 58 which may have adjustable arms 59 and 60 in spaced relation to each other to limit the movement of the lever 56. The arms are adjustable in holes, such as 61, in the 0st 58, or other means may be aflorded for ad ustably limiting the swing of the lever 56. This lever also has other features in common with that illustrated in Figure 1, which need not, itis thought, be more specifically described, such as the weights and their association with the lever.

an armature 66 to be attracted by the core of an electromagnet 67, or other means for moving the lever when current is supplied for the purpose may be employed in this connection.

Aswitch terminal 68 is attached to the under side of the extension 62 of the lever, whereas the leveritself has a switch 69 which makes and breaks a circuit, as will presently appear.

A cup-like fluid receiver 70 has an aperture 71 in its bottom and the said fluid receiver has a flared extension 2 communicating with said opening in order that when the fluid receiver is gravitated in the fluid, the said fluid will be directed toward the opening to more effectually insure the entrance of the fluid to the said receiver. Under certain conditions, the opening 71 is controlled by a valve 7 3 having a valve stem 74 extending upwardly and connected to a link 75 which depends from a lever 76 on one side of its pivot 7 6, which pivot is supported by a post 77 carried by the extension 62; A link 78 is connected to the lever 76 on the other side of the pivot of the lever andthis link is anchored in suitable mannerto the lever 56. The fluid receiver is provided with a drain opening 7 9 and this may be formed in the receiver itself or in the valve and it has the same function as the orifice 34 in the member 30 to gradually release the fluid which it contains. An electrode 80 extends into the fluid receiver 70 and it has a conductor 81 leading to the switch terminal 68. The fluid receiver acts in conjunction with a fluid tank or .holder82 and this holder has an electrode or conductor 83 which is similar to the electrode 44 of Figure 1 and is intended to function in the same way in connection with a circuit similar to that illustrated in Figure 1. An electrode 8 1 is also associated with the fluid receiver 70, but it does not extend as far down into the fluid receiver as the electrode 80. It has a conductor 85 which is intended to be coupled up with a circuit similar to that Y When the electromagnet 67 draws the lever 56 downwardly and the fluid receiver 7 O encounters the fluid in the holder 82, the downward movement of the extension lever 62 will be retarded, as compared with the movement of the lever 56 and, as the lever 56 continues downwardly at a greater acceleration than that of the extension 62, a pull will be exerted on the link 7 8 and this will tilt the lever 76 to raise the link 7 5 and the valve and valve stem to which it is connected so that the opening 7 3 in the fluid receiver is unguarded and the fluid may flow into the receiver. The movement ]ust described also breaks the connection through the switch 69 and this circuit is not re-established until the magnet 67 is demagnetized and the lever 56 is moved in the opposite direction under the influence of a weight 86 which functions in a manner similar to the -weight 49 of that form of the invention shown in Fig. 1.

The extension lever 62 is supplied with a weight 87 which is suspended from the said lever by an arm 88 of a length which permits the weight to move below the center of gravity of the fluid receiver 70.

In the use of the mechanism just described, an electromagnet 89, a switch 90 operated thereby and switch terminals 91 and 92 with which the switch coacts are provided with conductors, as the circuit is diagrammatically shown in Fig. 1, connecting a battery, rails and the electromagnet 67, which corresponds to the electromagnet 24 in the diagram of Fi 1. The electromagnet 93 is intended to be used in the same circuit as that in which the eleetromagnet 40 is included in Fig. 1 so that the main difference in the modified construction relates to themanner of partially submerging the fluid receiver 70, in releasing the fluid from the receiver, and in the structure and operation of the lever and its extension.

Referring to the description of the circuits in Fig. 1 and the manner of delaying the signal for fast or slow moving trains, the modified construction has the same provision, in that, as heretofore stated, a fast moving train will cause the energization of the magnet 67 for a shorter time than will be the case where a slow moving train is traveling over the track. The fast moving train will therefore cause the fluid receiver to be held in the fluid a comparatively awopm short time before it is released by the magnet and the weight begins to exercise its function in raising the said receiver from the container. On the other hand, a slow moving train will maintain the current through the electromagnet 67 a greater length of time,

holding the fluid receiver 7 0 depressed in the fluid so that a greater amount of fluid enters the said receiver, and after it reaches a height therein so that it contacts the electrode 84, the switch through the signaling system will be open and the signal will not be energized until the fluid flows out of the receiver to clear the end of the electrode 84. From the foregoing, it will be noted that the purpose of the invention is to provide a signaling system which will eliminate the unnecessary time period of the signal when a slowly moving train approaches a crossing, for instance, fixing a definite period of time before a train arrives at the crossing, and the time period varies inversely with the speed of the train.

The single coil 19 is operative when a train is approaching the crossing, it also times the action of coil 24 of armature'66, and this coil with its wiring does" double duty, as it eliminates action when a train is leaving a crossing, and times the action of the signal for an approaching train, being operative in case of a single track railroad.

I claim: I

1. In a signaling system for railway crossings, a signal for the crossing in an electric circuit including a switch, a fluid time-controlled'contact maker and breaker for establishing a circuit through the signal and the switch, the action of said means being proportional to the speed of rolling stock on the railway approaching the crossing. 2. In a signaling system for railway crossings, a signal for the crossing in an electric circuit, means for controlling the circuit through the signal, the said means including a fluid level circuit maker and breaker whose operationis regulated proportional to the speed of rolling stock on the railway approaching the crossing.

3. In asignaling system ings, a signal for the crossing in an electric circuit, a container having fluid therein for conducting electric current, a member mounted for movement in the fluid and adapted to receive the fluid proportional to the time in which it is in the fluid and discharge said fluid graduall v,'conductors of electricity in said member terminating at different levels therein, one of said conductors being included in the circuit of the signal, electrically controlled means for making and breaking the said signal circuit, including a source of electricity, a circuit for the said means including the other of said conductors in the member, the last mentioned conductor being in circuit while fluid in the member is in contact for railway crosslOO with-it and the circuit'in which it is included being demagnetized when fluid in the member recedes beyond the said conductor.

. 4. In a signaling system for railway crossings, a signal for the crossing in an electric circuit, a container having fluid therein for conducting electric current, a member mounted for movement in the fluid and adapted to receive the fluid proportional to the time in v which it is in the fluidand discharge saidfluid adually, means controlled by a circuit inclu 'ng rolling stock on the railwa for moving the said member for aduate submergence in the fluid, means or lifting said member partially or wholly out of the fluid,

conductors of electricity in said member terminating at difierent levels therein, one of said conductors being included in'the circuit of the signal, electrical] controlled means for making and breaking t e said signal circuit, includinga source of electricity, a circuit for the said means including the other of said conductors in the member, said last mentioned conductor being in circuit while fluid 26 in the member is in contact with it, and the circuit in which itis included being demagnetized when fluid in the member recedes be yond the said conductor. 5. In a signaling system for railway cross- 80 ings, a signal for the crossing in an electric circuit, means for establishing a circuit through the signal, and a fluid circuit maker and breakerof such construction as .to constitute means for controlling the time of estab- 88 .lishing a circuit complemental to the s ced of rolling stock on the railway/approac g the crossing. 1 6. In a signaling system for railway crossings, a signal for the crossing in an electric 40 circuit means for establishing a circuit through the signal, and means for timing the -establ1shment of the circuit with relation to the s ed of travel of the rolling'stock ap proac ing the crossing, effected by a fluid contact circuit maker and breaker. 

